“Nothing gets thrown away now,” said head director and choreographer Linda Haberman. “They weren’t as careful in the old days.”

The dancers actually started kicking in St. Louis in 1925 as the Missouri Rockets. They made their New York debut two years later, performing at the Roxy Theater, where they were known as the Roxyettes. When Radio City opened on Dec. 27, 1932, the Roxyettes transferred there and performed in the first holiday show in December 1933. They were renamed the Rockettes in 1934.

During this year’s Spectacular, which opened Friday and runs through Dec. 30, Santa Claus will introduce seven Rockettes to show off the show’s history — two wearing original vintage costumes; four in the recreated looks; and one in the current dress.